I watched this movie not really expecting it to be particularly good - but I was wrong. It was great. I was a fan of the Australian soap opera Prisoner Cell Block H, but this film tells it all in an hour and 40 minutes, and does it with more class and style.
We see the prison through the eyes of 19 year-old Mary Allen (Eleanor Parker), a frightened pretty pregnant ingenue who is in prison for aiding and abetting her husband who tried to rob a "5 and dime" store. He was killed in the ensuing shoot-out. Although Mary is a criminal, it is clear that she should never have been imprisoned - she's basically a good girl who was unlucky and stupid. The film progresses a series of losses in her life - first her best friend kills herself when she doesn't get her parole. Mary goes into early labour but fortunately the baby is OK. However, Mary's family won't look after it so it is taken away from her and placed with adoptive parents. Mary also misses out on the chance of parole, the upper-class, old white men who run the system are shown as uncaring buffoons. Then she finds a kitten, only to have it killed during a riot. Because of the riot she has her shaved by the evil authoritarian matron and ends up in solitary confinement.
Mary gradually develops from a snivelling pussy into a confident hard nut - the acting her is unbelievable, it's difficult to believe you're watching the same actress from the beginning of the film. Her entire voice, posture and manner have changed. However, throughout the film, no matter what Mary loses, we are aware that she still has the most important thing - her sense of morality. The great tragedy shown in this film is that by the end, even this is worn away and Mary agrees to join a criminal network because they will ensure she gets a quick parole. The final scenes, when she flicks a cigarette across the steps of the prison and gets into a car full of mobsters to the accompaniment of a very sleazy jazz wind orchestra is one of the most memorable climaxes in movie history.
This is an excellent film, gripping, funny in places, sad, campy and intensely involving. During the scene when Top Dog Kitty Stark stabs the evil matron with scissors, I was shouting along with Mary "Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!" I love it.
We see the prison through the eyes of 19 year-old Mary Allen (Eleanor Parker), a frightened pretty pregnant ingenue who is in prison for aiding and abetting her husband who tried to rob a "5 and dime" store. He was killed in the ensuing shoot-out. Although Mary is a criminal, it is clear that she should never have been imprisoned - she's basically a good girl who was unlucky and stupid. The film progresses a series of losses in her life - first her best friend kills herself when she doesn't get her parole. Mary goes into early labour but fortunately the baby is OK. However, Mary's family won't look after it so it is taken away from her and placed with adoptive parents. Mary also misses out on the chance of parole, the upper-class, old white men who run the system are shown as uncaring buffoons. Then she finds a kitten, only to have it killed during a riot. Because of the riot she has her shaved by the evil authoritarian matron and ends up in solitary confinement.
Mary gradually develops from a snivelling pussy into a confident hard nut - the acting her is unbelievable, it's difficult to believe you're watching the same actress from the beginning of the film. Her entire voice, posture and manner have changed. However, throughout the film, no matter what Mary loses, we are aware that she still has the most important thing - her sense of morality. The great tragedy shown in this film is that by the end, even this is worn away and Mary agrees to join a criminal network because they will ensure she gets a quick parole. The final scenes, when she flicks a cigarette across the steps of the prison and gets into a car full of mobsters to the accompaniment of a very sleazy jazz wind orchestra is one of the most memorable climaxes in movie history.
This is an excellent film, gripping, funny in places, sad, campy and intensely involving. During the scene when Top Dog Kitty Stark stabs the evil matron with scissors, I was shouting along with Mary "Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!" I love it.